#CityU23s | Young Citizens defeat Villagers

Reading City U23s extended their unbeaten run in the Thames Valley Premier League on Saturday afternoon to six games with a 1-0 victory over Mortimer who we beat at home 3-2 earlier in the season. It was a tough game and not the best performance of the season, but the U23s still managed to get the three points to put them back to 3rd in the league.

Match Report by Nick Bird

Both teams started well in the first ten minutes, but it was City who went close first when Jude Van Spall had a free kick on the left side, he bent his shot towards the top left corner, but the goalkeeper made a decent save to prevent an early goal for City.

From the resulting corner, Mortimer counter-attacked and were in a 2v1 against Jordi Wilson, but they lacked composure, and it ended up being a simple save in what was to be a busy game for the Citizens goalkeeper.

Jordi Wilson had another save to make ten minutes later when the Mortimer left-back had an attempt from outside the box, but it was straight at the goalkeeper.

The game was filled with controversy surrounding the referee and especially the linesman. The Citizens felt extremely hard done by in the 39th minute when Bub Touray played a lovely through ball for Tyrese Weeks who put his shot away in a one on one, but the Mortimer player that was linesman flagged for offside, however, it looked like Tyrese Weeks was well onside, and it was another example of the issues having no linesman can cause.

Only a minute later with the score still 0-0 Jordi Wilson was called back into action from a half volley by the Mortimer captain, Wilson made a good save to keep the scores level.

The best chance or City, excluding the disallowed goal, came with only a few minutes to go until half-time when Tyron Bah won the ball back close to the Mortimer box, he poked the ball through for Jude Van Spall who had a chance to score on his first start for the U23s this season when he hit it on the turn, but the shot lacked the power it needed, the keeper still had to make a good save to prevent City taking the lead just before half-time though.

The sides went in level at half-time. Both had to improve if they wanted to get something from this game.

City U23s started well as they got the ball to Tyrese Weeks in the first minute of the half, he beat his man and then crossed it in for Bub Touray who just hit the post, it was a promising start for the visitors.

Mortimer also had an early opportunity in the second half, number 7 was given far too much time on the edge of the box and forced another great save from Jordi Wilson as the ball headed for the top right corner.

With thirty minutes to go, Mortimer had a goal disallowed from a corner for a foul after the ball was headed into the goal.

Reading City U23s finally found a breakthrough with fifteen minutes to go, Tyrese Weeks showed his talent as he got past two Mortimer players on the left side, he then played the ball through to substitute Jehmeil McNeil to put away into the far side of the goal and give the visitors the lead, Mortimer 0-1 Reading City U23s.

With less than ten minutes plus a decent amount of added time left the game hotted up with Mortimer threatening on a couple of occasions, one of the opportunities came from just outside the six-yard box, and the shot went through Jas Le Paih’s legs, but Wilson made another good save to keep his side in the lead. A few minutes later Wilson had to make another save, the ball was worked into the box from the right side before a shot was fired towards the near post, but Jordi Wilson made yet another save in what was a tremendous goalkeeping display. It wasn’t only good saves he was making, there were multiple times where he had to punch the ball away from Mortimer set-pieces which he did so with confidence each time.

The final chance of the game came on the counter-attack, City had the numbers and probably should have just gone to the corner, but Jehmeil McNeil looked to confirm the win with another goal, but it lacked power and ended up being an easy save for the goalkeeper.

It ended with City travelling back to Reading with all three points after a great battle against Mortimer which highlighted the quality of the City defence and Jordi Wilson who was comfortably man of the match for his countless saves which made the difference in the end.

Reading City U23s next game falls on National Non-League Day and also on the second ‘City Double Header’ of the season, 12/10/19. The U23s will be playing Woodcote at Rivers at 14:00, in the reverse fixture City came out on top with a 3-1 win, and they’ll look to get the three points again. If you’re going to the second part of the ‘City Double Header’ it would be great to see you come and support the U23s before you go to watch the first team play Easington Sports.

As always you can follow all Reading City U23s games on twitter @RDGCityYouth.

Match Reaction

Here's what our Under 23s Manager Deano Jones had to say following his side's win:

"When you have to dig deep to get 3 points in a tight game, you need your keepers concentration levels to be 100%, Our keeper Jordi Wilson is a special talent at such a young age. What a performance"